Project information

Empowering Marginalised Youth in Uganda

40 promising youth are waiting to join our innovative training centre. All have grown up in poverty, many have been affected by war and HIV. They will receive vocational training, learn conservation farming and acquire holistic life skills, ensuring their lives will be a success in every sense.

Charity information: Amigos Worldwide

Need

In northern Uganda war raged for almost three decades. Today 49% of the population is less than 15 years old and there are 2.5 million orphans. This broken generation faces few economic opportunities, 83% of 15-24 year olds are unemployed and 75% do not have the the opportunity to complete secondary school. Ninety per cent of the population live in rural areas and survive on subsistence farming and informal labour. Many do not have enough to eat and cannot afford basic essentials such as soap.

Solution

At Kira Farm young people learn conservation farming methods which increase crop yields up to four-fold - ensuring households have enough to eat. They acquire vocational skills in construction, tailoring, carpentry and hairdressing so they can set up small businesses and earn an income. They also receive business training and microfinance to provide them with the capital, or tools, to set up a sustainable business. 100% of Kira Farm's 2013 graduates have set up successful small businesses.

Aim 1

Fund Kira Farm Development Centre for 40 marginalised young people starting in January 2016

Activities

» - Select 40 promising, disadvantaged, young people who have the potential to be leaders and catalysts for change in their communities » - Provide vocational training in carpentry, construction, hairdressing and tailoring. Deliver additional training in business skills, IT, beekeeping » - Provide training in conservation farming and in leadership so trainees are equipped to pass on their knowledge to their communities » - Equip trainees with Conflict Resolution techniques and provide them with the space to reflect on their past and aspire to the future

What success will look like

Within 6 months we will provide personal stories on our website and social media from Kira graduates. Within 12 months we will have figures to demonstrate impact in all areas.

Impact

Within 24 months at least 40 people and their households (480 people) will lift themselves out of poverty. This project will ensure families don’t go to bed hungry and mean they can afford essentials such as medicine and school fees.

Each trainee is expected to train a community farming group (average 35 people), reaching a further 1400 people. In total, 1920 lives will be transformed for £25 per person.

Success will be demonstrated by levels of income and efforts to pass on skills.

Risk

A risk could be that a trainee fails to show up at the start of the training. In case of family tragedy or other unforeseen circumstances, we have a reserve list of trainees so that no places are wasted on the programme.

Reporting

Funders of this project will receive a monthly email report on the project, detailing the ongoing and forthcoming activities, along with any necessary changes to the programme or challenges.

Current Funding / Pledges

Location

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. In northern Uganda violence and conflict raged for almost three decades, resulting in the displacement of four million lives, destroying economic activity and hindering development. The majority of Ugandans are subsistence farmers who live a hand to mouth existence. 69% of the population live on less than $1 a day. There are only 4 doctors per 100,000 people. Kira Farm Development Centre is based in Wakiso, 20 miles from the capital Kampala

Beneficiaries

40 promising young people living in extreme poverty, with no hope for the future, will directly benefit from this project. Through the crops they grow and the income they generate their households will benefit, and as they pass on their skills into their communities many more will gain the ability to improve their own lives – a conservative total of 1920. This will lead to many positive results such as creating employment, doubling crop yields, providing school fees and much more.

Why Us?

With 15 years’ experience in Uganda, and Kira Farm hoping to welcome its sixth intake of students in January 2016, Amigos has gained insight into the most effective ways of working alongside young Ugandans so that they grasp a sustainable future for themselves. Over the years we have fine-tuned the course and from our 2013 intake, 100% of all graduates were gainfully employed within six months of returning to their communities thanks to the skills they acquired at Kira.